HoopsHype.com Rumors

Jonathan Feigen: Alexander praised McHale, staff. They've talked. McHale has 2 more yrs on contract. "Kevin has done a great job. He’s not going anywhere." Twitter @Jonathan_Feigen

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Leslie Alexander 

Mark Berman: Leslie Alexander on Kevin McHale:"He has a great way w/the players. He's always honest & never backs down, but he has no ego in that regard" Twitter @MarkBermanFox26

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Leslie Alexander 

Mark Berman: Leslie Alexander on possibly losing ass't Kelvin Sampson:"Kelvin is a good coach. We hate to lose anybody,but people have a right 2 move up" Twitter @MarkBermanFox26

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson, Leslie Alexander 

Jonathan Feigen: Rockets signed GM Daryl Morey to a four-year extension this week, Leslie Alexander said. Had been in works since All-Star break. Twitter @Jonathan_Feigen

Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, Leslie Alexander 

John Hollinger: Congrats to @Daryl Morey /bad news for rest of us in West. MT @Jonathan Feigen Rockets signed GM Daryl Morey to a 4-yr extension this week Twitter @johnhollinger

Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Daryl Morey, Leslie Alexander, John Hollinger 

With the Rockets’ retooling exceeding his expectations, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said he will not let the contract of general manager Daryl Morey expire after next season. Though he typically has not worked on one contract until the previous deal is complete, Alexander said he intends to re-sign Morey. Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, Leslie Alexander 

“His contract is up next year, I believe,” Alexander said. “We’ll re-up him. Daryl knows that I judge him all the time. I’ve told him. He’s not shy about it either. He just knows that’s the way I operate. Why wouldn’t I? The general manager is the one person in your organization you can really judge. He can make good moves or bad moves. This year, I think he’s made three terrific moves.” Alexander said the decision to trade for James Harden, along with the moves to acquire the pieces that set up that deal and free agent additions of Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik convinced him to keep Morey beyond his current contract. Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, Leslie Alexander 

Mark Berman: Rockets owner Leslie Alexander believes James Harden, who has a sore ankle, will play in the All-Star Game:"100%. He'll be fine by Sunday." Twitter @MarkBermanFox26

Houston Rockets, James Harden, Injuries, Leslie Alexander 

Houston Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander released the following statement regarding the passing of Head Coach Kevin McHale's daughter, Alexandra "Sasha" McHale: "I extend my deepest condolences to Kevin and Lynn for the loss of their beautiful daughter, Sasha, on Saturday afternoon. Kevin and Lynn are loving and dedicated parents who will need our continued support throughout this very difficult time. Our entire organization is mourning the McHale family's loss and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers." NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Kevin McHale, Leslie Alexander 

The Rockets intend to continue to fine White every day he fails to report to practice or attend sessions with Fink, the person familiar with the situation said. Rockets owner Leslie Alexander on Tuesday said that there were “internal repercussions” for White missing practices and games. Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, Leslie Alexander, Royce White 

Former Rockets center Yao Ming these days will spend more time at the games of his Shanghai Sharks than at Toyota Center, but his uniform number will likely make its way to the arena rafters. Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, speaking after Tuesday’s unveiling of the All-Star ballot, said he expects to retire Yao’s No. 11. “Sometime probably, yes,” Alexander said. Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Yao Ming, China, Leslie Alexander, Shanghai Sharks 

Jeff Zillgitt: In a statement, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander: "We are thrilled to have Jeremy back as part of the Rockets family." Twitter

Houston Rockets, Jeremy Lin, Leslie Alexander 

Olajuwon said the Rockets are doing whatever they can to land the seven-year veteran and believes the chances are "really high" of it happening. Houston on Friday waived rugged forward Luis Scola under the NBA's amnesty rule in order to clear cap room to possibly take back salaries the Magic want to dump in a possible Howard deal. "Not too many teams are willing to take the chance," Olajuwon said of teams wary of trading for Howard with no guarantee he will re-sign. "Les (Alexander, Houston's owner) is not afraid to make a big step like that… (Such a trade would be) very risky if you don't get a firm commitment (from Howard about staying)." FOXSports Florida

Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Hakeem Olajuwon, Leslie Alexander 

Thus the Rockets cut ties with a fan favorite, an All-2000s stalwart. That Scola played just three seasons in the aughts symbolized what he meant to the franchise, and the difficulty behind the decision to set him free. "On behalf of the entire organization and Rockets fans around the world, I want to thank Luis for his contributions to our organization and the City of Houston," Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said. "Luis is a tremendous player who has been the consummate professional both on and off the court. His dedication to winning and being a team player are unsurpassed." FOXSports Houston

Houston Rockets, Free Agency, Luis Scola, Owners, Leslie Alexander 

Surrounded by the media before the game, Adelman took the opportunity to take issue with something he had read. When McHale was hired to coach the Rockets, a column appeared in the Houston Chronicle suggesting that Adelman -- as well as his predecessor as Rockets coach, Jeff Van Gundy -- kept team owner Leslie Alexander at arm's length. Specifically, the column suggested Alexander called his coach three or four times a year but that the coach didn't pick up. "You know, I'm still waiting for that phone call he said he made to me every year," Adelman said. "I never got one, unless he was calling another Rick. I didn't think anything of it until I saw all this stuff about how I never listened to him. It was kind of a joke." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Rick Adelman, Leslie Alexander 

He wasn't done. "[Alexander] said he used to call me three or four times a year. It never happened. ... I chose not to accept the extension they offered me. I always thought the operation was Daryl [Morey, Rockets GM] and Les talking and then when I met with Les it was Daryl, Les and I. I'm not real smart, but I'm going to listen to my boss. That kind of turned me the wrong way." That said, Adelman took pains to say how much he enjoyed his four years with the Rockets. “It was a great place to work, and I had a lot of fun,” he said. “Hopefully we can recreate it in Minnesota, that same atmosphere.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Rick Adelman, Leslie Alexander 

"It mystifies me," Alexander said Monday. "You'd think somebody who is the ultimate decider of your fate and wants to know what's going on would not have to claw information from them." In the NBA, many coaches prefer to work as their own separate entity. They have their players and their assistants and their trainers, and they wall them off from the rest of the organization. Mistrust develops. Hard feelings, too. For instance, McHale's two predecessors — Van Gundy and Rick Adelman - chose to have virtually no relationship with their boss. Did it hasten their departure? It couldn't have helped. "I've always had great relationships with my general managers - with Daryl and CD (Carroll Dawson)," Alexander said. "Coaches for some reason find it more difficult than general managers. Don't ask me why, but they do." Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Jeff Van Gundy, Leslie Alexander 

Once upon a time, Alexander was a regular visitor to the locker room, but this practice ceased with some encouragement from Van Gundy. The odd thing is, Alexander is far from an intrusive owner. By most estimates, he'd phone Van Gundy and Adelman three or four times a season. Still, he found the conversations to be unproductive, if not hostile. Coaches apparently perceived Alexander's blunt style as second-guessing their work. Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Jeff Van Gundy, Rick Adelman, Leslie Alexander 

As Van Gundy texted: "My perspective is that Les was easy to work for, and I mean super easy. He wanted to win, he stayed out of your way, he spent money if it made sense. You don't find that in every situation." Van Gundy said he wishes he had been more open with Alexander about how the Rockets were playing and why they were playing a certain style. Brown said it could have made a difference. "I've always told people that if Jeff had played things differently, he'd still be coach of the Rockets," Brown said. "Les loves his intellect and work ethic. He just wants to know how he thinks we're doing. Dialogue doesn't have to be confrontational." Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Jeff Van Gundy, Leslie Alexander 

Rick Adelman is not the only one unsure if he will return as Rockets coach next season. While Adelman has been ambivalent about his decision, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said Thursday he would consider his options with general manager Daryl Morey after the season. “At the end of the season, I’ll sit down with Daryl and we’ll talk about it,” Alexander said. “Nothing has been done yet, or thought about yet in that regard.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Daryl Morey, Rick Adelman, Leslie Alexander